Hi incurable travelers, as I have already told you in the article Hotel Sonnenalpe Falkensteiner we stayed in Nassfeld / Pramollo ski area, 110 km of pistes served by 30 lifts, including ski lifts and modern chairlifts, some even heated, as well as a long cable car the Millennium Express which in just 17 minutes from Tröpolach, in the Gail valley, leads at Kofelplatz Madritsche, with a difference in height of 1309 meters and a length of about 7000 m divided into three sections representing the largest gondola lift in the entire Alpine arc. To get off you can re-use the gondola lift or enjoy a long skiing on the wonderful 7.6 km descent with the last illuminated 2.2 km, which make up the longest Alpine track, as you can guess we are in the “record” area of ​​the Nassfeld Skiarena. Snowboarders in funpark and freeride areas also find satisfaction, where they can perform amazing developments in the same fields where the junior world snowboard championship is hosted. Do not miss the fun even for fans of cross-country skiing, with tracks that reach 80 km in length with various levels of difficulty, or for snowshoe lovers who thanks to the various trails for winter hiking can enjoy the whitewashed landscape. Children can go bobsled or sled on the five dedicated slopes, three of which are illuminated, on the 55 hectares of the frozen natural surface of Lake PresseggerSee. Lovers can experience romantic moments during fairy-tale horse-drawn sleigh rides. The most magical moment to stay in Nassfeld is certainly winter with the landscape dominated by the whiteness of the snow and dotted with the thousand lights that decorate the buildings, but has a certain charm even in summer, despite being known for being a rainy place, sunny days allow thanks to some facilities open during the summer to plan excursions suitable for both beginners and the more adventurous. For the little ones, there are also numerous attractions such as the “Pendolino” summer toboggan run with the longest Carinthian slope or the numerous playgrounds such as NTC Outdoor Park with the rock labyrinth; archery; Geopark, where you discover nature by playing; “In the realm of the witch by the lake” theme park at Lake Pressegger See; Alpine park “Almrausch” and others. After trying the various winter or summer activities, all you have to do is sit down at a table or in a restaurant and taste the excellent speck or the typical cheese from the Gail valley, accompanied by a good mug of beer. To the next destinationinguaribile.viaggiatore(at)yahoo.it

Some photographs of Nassfeld – Austria

Hailing inguarible travelers, the goal I wanted to point out today is a great destination of Mexico highly appreciated for the cultural link with the pre-Hispanic civilization and the value of its colonials, that is Ciapas, where the pre-Spanish had started about 7,000 years ago. San Cristóbal de las Casas is a major seat of the Chiapas Bishopric (1545), of which Fray Bartolome de Las Casas was the first bishop. He held religious orders at Chiapas at that time and also the Jesuit College of San Francisco Javier, in addition to the first Escuela Normal de America. During the nineteenth century it was the capital of the state. San Cristobal de las Casas is a city that finds its richness in its ethnic diversity and colonial tradition, which is found in splendid 16th century buildings. As many tour guides explain, many Indian descendants live in the lands around San Cristobal. Already in the country they are constantly seeing their presence, especially children. The gray roads are full of their colorful colors, and the sound of the flutes makes the atmosphere special. The Indians descend from the mountains to San Cristobal to sell their handicrafts in the markets and to shop. Even the city has the same exotic and ancient flavor of their clothes. In the heart of Chiapas, the state of the revolutionary Subcomandante Marcos, just a few miles from San Cristobal de las casas, there is a mysterious village where sacred and profane, indigenous rites and globalization blend into a mysterious blend that gives life to the village of San Juan Chamula. In this area, the land is very green, the fresh climate (we are 2200 meters), there are pines like our mountains, corn fields and beans, and these cultivated fields make the population live in misery but not die of fame. We meet some women waving the wool with big iron combs. On the paths appear the Mayan crosses, green with rounded edges, straw and pine trees at the base. These same crosses are applied on homes to protect the family. Not far from San Cristobal de las Casas and Zinacantan, we find San Juan Chamula, a town surrounded by countryside where the houses in the place of reinforced concrete have dry mud and bamboo canes and where time is still measured with the sundial. A San Juan Chamula the official language is not Spanish but a debate that drags the seeds of the ancient Mayan language with it, the form of trade is barter and the law and its observations are decided by the village leader. Looking at the landscape, Indians Chamula work well with their red and black wool coats, for them, sheep can not be eaten: they are almost sacred animals because they provide wool to cover in winter. Always a San Juan Chamula, we meet some women waving the wool with big iron combs. On the paths appear the Mayan crosses, green with rounded edges, straw and pine trees at the base. These same crosses are applied on homes to protect the family. San Juan Chamula is immersed in the countryside where the houses in place of reinforced concrete have dry mud and bamboo canes and where time is still measured with the sundial. The official language is not Spanish but a diocese that still carries the seeds of ancient Mayan language, the form of trade is barter and the law and its observations are decided by the village leader. As soon as we get off the bus, we are literally assaulted by children who sell chains and ammennicoli and continue to repeat “after”, “after”. I came to the following interpretation: all the Italian tourists taking an auction try to defend themselves by saying “afterwards” and the children are convinced that this is a form of greeting or something like that. The most important attraction in San Juan Chamula is the village’s main church dedicated to San Juan Bautista. Religious syncretism here finds its utmost expression, in fact, Catholic religion and pagan rituals put into something that has little to see with religion as we mean it. Almost with a sort of fear and uncertainty within the Church where I will soon be presenting, disgraceful, unobtrusive visions. In this traditionalist church, there are no priests or messes, though, in theory, the Church of San Juan Chamula depends on the Diocese of San Cristobal de Las Casas. The priest arrives only once a year for the battles, while the rest of the year the San Juan Chamula church is handled autonomously, in a sort of collective, by the popular indigenous. Above all, it is strictly forbidden to photograph people directly (among which the old belief that the soul can be lost in this way, trapped inside the picture), as well as the religious rites and celebrations that take place inside and outside the church, pending the seizure of the machine or worse. For this purpose, she watches a special local militia, armed with a short wooden stick and recognizable for a sleeveless white coat, worn on the dress, which also has the task of verifying that a special tax has been paid at the local office of tourism, to photograph the country. Almost with a kind of fear and uncertainty, entering the church is immediately clothed with the atmosphere of suggestion that breathes. The interior of the church is bare but lets out the spirit that pervades a people from simple but extremely intense religiosity. You see whole families kneeling on the ground, who play incomprehensible litany in a loud voice that, going to unite, give body to a mystical brusque background that will accompany me in the mind even when it comes out of that place. The floor is sprinkled with pine needles that represent the fertility of the earth and the contact between man and mother nature; Lighted candles and Coca Cola glass bottles are mostly arranged around the faithful to carry out their rites. It is not uncommon for these rituals, sometimes ordained by practicing sorcerers, also to use animals (normally chickens or chickens subsequently sacrificed) to which magical rituals try to transfer the evil that has hit the postulant. Male (illness) that can also be ejected from the mouth, always according to their beliefs, think a little, even by making extensive use of Coca Cola, which inevitably facilitates the purpose by producing large amounts of gas. The rest of the walls are covered with statues and fetishes of other saints of all kinds and origin, there is even our “Sant’Antono da Padova”, in addition to the iconic icon of the Virgin of Guadalupe, present in every corner of the Mexico, to which people’s prayers are addressed. People silently confessed to the statues. Each image brings a mirror to the neck, in which the faithful, confessing, can see their face. Inside the Christian church of San Juan Chamula, the large number of candles lit on the floor (next to pine needles), and above all the color of the votive candles offered, symbolize the grace that one wants to ask the saint , which are white (nervous problems), green (problems with the forest view as a spiritual entity), red (blood wounds), brown (problems with the earth or crops) and blacks (danger of death). When finally the requests are received thanksgiving, the statues of the saints are covered with colorful and precious fabrics. Out of the church we can not resist the assault of children and we all buy chains, bracelets and key rings. San Juan Chamula’s kitchen or chopsticks Chicken brewery is the result of the mix of different traditions. For indigenous products, the Spaniards united cereals, fruit, legumes, and animal flesh unknown in this region. The fusion of these traditions has generated a kitchen with its own characteristics, which has also been influenced by the eastern immigration that has characterized these places. Among the typical dishes we find the noodle with tasajo, cochito, beef or pork with rice, pozol, agua de chía, tascalate and typical cakes like the suspiro and pan de elote. There are ham and sausage dishes, such as chicken salad, stuffed peppers, boiled meat with chickpeas, stuffed calf, chanfain, meat stew and saffron tongue. The typical cuisine of some Chiapas villages includes iguana meat, wild boar, rabbit, lamb, calf, anantra, quail and ostrich that are roasted and accompanied by chili and cilantro eggs. You can not remember the cacahuate, wild honey, homemade chocolate, sunflower seeds and roasted pumpkin en comal. The view to Chamula’s San Juan Bautista church was one of the strongest and most interesting experiences of all my trip to Mexico and not only

RELIGIOUS SYNCRETISM OF SAN JUAN CHAMULA – MEXICO

For more information: Mexico Tourist Board Via Barberini 3 – 00187 Roma tel .: 06-4874698 – fax: 06-42014293 Email: italy@visitmexico.it Web sites: Mexican Tourism Promotion Board: www.visitmexico.com/en Gobierno del Estrado de Chiapas: www.turismochiapas.gob.mx/ (in Spanish ) How to reach San Juan Chamula and Chiapas: By plane: There are no direct flights from Italy to Chiapas, so you have to fly to Mexico City. Embassy Embassy of Italy in Mexico City Paseo de las Palmas 1994 Col. Lomas de Chapultepec 11000 México, D.F. Tel. 0052.55.55963655 – Fax 0052.55.55962472 E-mail: segreteria.messico@esteri.it Web: www.ambcittadelmessico.esteri.it Documents: Passport with validity of at least 6 months without visa requirement for tourist stays of up to three months for Italian citizens: 6 hours less than Italy, 7 when in Italy is the time of day. Obligatory vacations: No compulsory vaccination Recommended period: The best time to visit San Juan Chamula and Chiapas is from October to May because the weather is dry enough and is not too cold.

Relais the Canticle of the Nature of Montesperello

Hi incurable travellers, You do not even realize that when the summer holidays are a reminder and the winter ones a mirage begins to have the desire to stop a few days to reload. We have chosen this year to enjoy four days in Umbria, a region that particularly loves its villages and the bright colors of autumn landscapes.

We chose the relais of the nature of Montesperello, a structure with a spectacular view of Lake Trasimeno, surrounded by the green-gray of one of the oldest olive groves of the lake and the green of the pine forest , secular chestnuts colored with red bushes and purple wild biscuits that give them their soft scent in the air.

The relais Montesperello’s chant is located at the end of a dirt road but easily accessible, in front of an ancient farmhouse and hunting lodge, masterfully restored and preserved in peculiar characteristics of “countryside” of about three hundred and fifty years. We were especially impressed by the attention and love that the family Micci, the current owners of the relais The Montesperello Nature Song, devoted the restoration of the structure by combining the use of original materials and respect for the history of those who have lived property in the past with the most modern concepts of bio-architecture and bio-building.

The twelve rooms of the relais The canticle of the nature of Montesperello is identified by the name of a month of the month, reiterating that the harmony between place, nature and inhabitants is one of the main issues for man’s life and the right resting on vacation. Every detail is cared for and designed to welcome the guest, such as a tender heart of red rose petals on the bed and a rich selection of herbal teas for good night. The property is suitable for families, suites of the very beautiful family, composed of two environments of which one is furnished with themed furniture for children, but especially ideal for a romantic weekend of love.

We would definitely like to spend a Valentine’s Day in the abstract echo, squatting on the round bed looking at the stars from the big windows, taking an aperitif at the pool by admiring the sunset over Lake Trasimeno and ending the day with a relaxing session in exclusive equipped spa or maybe enjoying a nice massage directly in the room.

A special mention at the relais restaurant The Montesperello nature chant, an intimate atmosphere where to sleep in a candle of light, cushioned by gentle and attentive salons, offering delicious dishes with biologists in the area and the well-calibrated combination . I especially liked a simple appetizer and all “poor” but rich in flavor, a velvety chickpea with bread and chicory croutons with a spicy note and a great oil wire; or lean cappellaces lying on pumpkin cream with crunchant ham.

Breakfast proposals range from salat (exceptional local cakes with cake to text) to sweet with brioches and homemade pies, as well as various types of organic jams and honey. Also for the first time we found a whole honey available for tasting, really special taste but extremely enjoyable.

Some photos of the Canticle of the Nature of Montesperello

The tour of the Covasna region in Romania continues. We arrived on the third day and it is time to leave the Daniel Castle Hotel and head to an enchanted forest. But before we reach tar trees and bears, we expect a city stop, Saint George with Szekler National Museum. The Székely National Museum is open to the public since 1875. It is currently the largest Hungarian public collection outside of Hungary and is also one of the most important tourist attractions in the county of Kovászna and Székelyföld. The complex includes a library, departments for natural science, archaeology, history and ethnography. The permanent archaeological exposition has 35,000 years of culture with material from this area. The Ethnographic Department is famous for its unique collection in Transylvania that counts more than 15,000 pieces. Here you will find carved furniture and antique paintings with a remarkable collection of traditional children’s toys. You can also see typical rooms like the kitchen where there was a bed that was not used to sleep, but to show the wealth of the family according to the number of mattresses. The dining room’s typical chairs, on the other hand, had the ability to move the backrest to tell if the family was at a time of disagreement or peace. Continuing in the visit you can also notice a typical Protestant baptismal scene with an egg cradle inside which you see an egg and a penny. These two elements were a good wish for the unborn child. At the end of the visit we moved to the city center to visit the Chimney Cake festival, typical of Transylvania’s sweet. After a great lunch at the Winestudio Indovino we went into the forest. Here we have been guests of a beautiful hotel, the Balvanyos Resort, a huge green property with a beautiful wellness center. 110 rooms all with spectacular mountain views. The rooms are very large and comfortable with balcony. There are then 3 restaurants to choose different menus. But the unique element of this resort is the Grand Santerra Spa, a 2000 sqm relaxing oasis between indoor and outdoor sauna, steam bath, whirlpool and swimming pool. For the most intrepid then there is also the Balvanyos Adventure Park, with different difficulties depending on age. If you want to see the beloved bears, then just outside the hotel a tower is waiting for you to see these enormous animals from above. Really a unique experience!

After sleeping in the comfort and luxury of the Castle Hotel Daniel in Talisoara and after a great international breakfast, the second day of tour of the Covasna region begins. We went upstairs to Daniel Castle in Varghis, the most important building in the country. The castle features Renaissance, Baroque and Classical features. Inside there are no objects, but you can see some traits that characterize the manor. In a wall you can see a small wardrobe that served as a hiding place for letters and documents, with the same decorative features that still use the painters we had visited the day before. Other characteristic features are many carved stone bas-reliefs and family emblems, to remember the important events. Outside there is a beautiful garden and we were lucky to discover horses eating and drinking along the brook. Our day went on with another castle, the Kalnoky Castle in Miclosoara. Inside there is the museum of life in Transylvania. The rooms recall the different historical periods through paintings and objects of the time. In the women’s room you can see perfume bottles, all you need for a home drugstore and floral ornaments. But downstairs, in the kitchens, we were expecting a surprise. In fact we participated in a program to create felt flowers. It was fun to see bloggers coming from all over the world sit at a table and put their hands in soap to give birth to a fake tulip! The lunch time came so we moved to the Conte Kalnoky Guesthouse. Yes, because here is still the count that actively participates in the life of the country and in these buildings you can spend a few days discovering the beauty of these places. The buildings have been carefully restored to preserve their charm and original character. The cottages are located within spacious gardens, furnished with antiques. The rooms are exclusively equipped with antique furnishings including most fabrics. Sitting around the table we also had the opportunity to know the Count, who told us about the problems of Covasna, future plans and hope that we can improve the tourism of this beautiful country. He would like to improve infrastructures, roads, schools for children. Those who come here are just looking for a vacation in nature, timeless, without the stress of city life. The inhabitants are happy to see new people, strangers interested in their land and their customs. A really special encounter with a very helpful person. But the day was not over yet. Welcoming the Count we left for an afternoon in nature in the gorges of Vargyas. 4 km of path with 125 caves. The most famous cave is Orban Balázs that we managed to reach after 1 km of walk between bridges and stairs. A truly unique landscape, but you can only see it under the supervision of a local guide. In fact, there are caves that cannot be visited because still inhabited by some animal like the bear, a possible friend during your walk. Returning to the hotel there was a surprise waiting for us. The organizers had called professional gingerbread decorators. Yes, those biscuits that make so much Christmas, but here are really a must. We have thus become a veritable pastry with green, red and white sugar cream to decorate flowers and hearts. A technique that is handed down from generation to generation. We found out that between cooking and decorating the biscuit takes two days. Hours and hours of excitement and attention to write a love phrase or to recreate the favorite design of a child. And now everyone is ready for dinner. Tired for the thousand adventures of the day. The story of the journey in Covasna continues in the article: Szekler national museum Article translated from Italian by Melania Guarda Ceccoliinfo@inguaribileviaggiatore.it